All The Wicked Girls

Bleak and Atmospheric Mystery

This was my first book by Chris Whitaker and it blew me away. Set in Alabama in 1995, the novel centres around the unsolved disappearances of a number of young girls by someone known only as the Bird. Following the disappearance of Summer Ryan, tensions begin to rise within the community of Grace, as neighbour turns on neighbour. The rural setting heightens the fear and suspicion, reflected in the cloud hovering about the town, which is keeping them in literal darkness. There's a storm brewing and the only question is when it will break.

The style of the narrative drew me into the story immediately using an informal and authentic voice. Fifteen-year-old Raine Ryan is a nuanced and complex character. I was invested in her from the moment she was introduced as she is just so compelling. Raine is flawed and adrift, lashing out at people, seemingly hopeless yet yearning for more from life. Raine's efforts to find her twin sister, Summer, form the backbone of the book. As the mystery of Summer's disappearance continues, the tension is heightened by interspersed passages written from Summer's perspective.

The characters in this novel are definitely not black and white. Most are flawed in some way but trying to change. I especially loved the friendship between Noah and Purv, which was so sweet yet heartbreaking at times. The book ends on a hopeful note, with the promise of a better future for the characters I grew invested in. I would definitely recommend this book for fans of 'The Roanoke Girls' by Amy Engel, and for anyone who enjoys a well-plotted and atmospheric mystery.